Two free community events will feature a discussion of Ernest Hemingway’s classic novel “A Farewell to Arms” on Friday, Oct. 16.
Big Read Discussion Explores Hemingway’s Classic Novel
The first community discussion will begin at noon in the Goodstein Foundation Library on the Casper College campus. It will be moderated by Casper College students Caleb Hill and Ashlyn Cooper. Hill is majoring in anthropology and English, and Cooper is majoring in English and psychology.
The evening community discussion will be held at Scarlow’s Art and Coffee, 122 W. 2nd Street in Downtown Casper. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and feature Charles Fournier, a Hemingway scholar and English instructor at Laramie County Community College.
According to his biography, Fournier is an award-winning podcaster, writer, and teacher. He earned his master’s in literature from the University of Wyoming, focusing on Hemingway’s writing and his construction of persona. Fournier’s work has appeared in academic journals and at international literary conferences. He has served as a reference and speaker for the One Book Wyoming Celebration of Hemingway’s “In Our Time.” His current favorite Hemingway quote comes from the short story “Indian Camp”: “In the early morning on the lake sitting in the stern of the boat with his father rowing, he felt quite sure that he would never die.”
Through a series of screenings, discussions, and art exhibitions, Casper College and its partners, the Natrona County Library and Scarlow’s Arts and Coffee, will explore themes of resilience, history, and the veteran experience, connecting Hemingway’s iconic work to our Wyoming roots. The NEA Big Read, in partnership with Arts Midwest, aims to inspire meaningful conversations and build stronger connections within each community. By focusing on “A Farewell to Arms” during America’s Semiquincentennial, Casper College and its partners honor our country’s culture and Wyoming’s spaces as part of our local and national creative inheritance.
Event At a Glance:
- Event Focus: Community discussions centering on Ernest Hemingway’s novel “A Farewell to Arms” as part of the NEA Big Read during America’s Semiquincentennial.
- Key Participants: Casper College student moderators Caleb Hill and Ashlyn Cooper; guest speaker Charles Fournier, Hemingway scholar and English instructor at Laramie County Community College.
- Logistics: Dates, Times, and Locations:
- Campus Session: Friday, Oct. 16, noon, Goodstein Foundation Library, Casper College campus.
- Evening Session: Friday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Scarlow’s Art and Coffee, 122 W. 2nd Street, Downtown Casper.
- Admission and Registration: Free and open to the public; no registration required.
- Project Partners: Casper College, Natrona County Library, Scarlow’s Art and Coffee, National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, and Arts Midwest.
